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W. W. BATCHELDER.

Gas Lighter.

' Patented May 14 1867.

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, W. W. BATCHELDER, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in the Method of and Means for Lighting Illuminating Gas; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings. I

The object of this invention is to provide a way by which illuminating gas issuing from ordinary gas-burners may be ignited without the use of matches or other-.means usually employed for that purpose. To this end it consists, first, in the mode of, or'process for, rendering a cord or tape highly combustible, so as to be capable of being ignited or inflamed by friction; and, second, in the method of applying this combustible fuse to gas burners of ordinary or suitable construction, so as to insure the ignition of the gas issuing therefrom.

To enable those skilledin the art to understand and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the'same is or maybe carried into effect by reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, inwhich- Figures 1 andfl are views in elevation of the gas-lighting device applied to an ordinary burner; and Figure 3 is a vertical central section on the line a; x, fig. 2. The fuse which I employ as the gas-igniting agent is made highly inflammable by being subjected to the following-chemical process: The cord or tape which forms the body of the fuse is first drawn through collodion;

then steeped in a bath of phosphorus held in solution by bisulphide of carbon, after which it is again passed through eollodion. The process is thencompleted by drying the fuse and coating it with shellac varnish. By

.means of these chemical agencies the cord or tape is transformed into ahighly combustible fuse, which, when subjected to very slight friction, will ignite and burn freely.

This fuse is applied for gas-lighting purposes in' the following manner: On account of its inflammable nature, it must be removed from the light and from contact with other bodies as much as possible. I therefore enclose it within an annular case or receptacle, A, of suitable form, which fits upon the gas-burner B, to which the device is to be applied, and'coil it upon a friction-sleeve or spool, 12, which encircles that part of the case fitting over the burner. This arrangement of the fuse is shown at a, fig. 3. In order to conduct the fuse to a point suitably near the mouth d of the burner, a. tube, 0, extends from the top of the case alongside the burner, its

mouth or upper end being just below the orifice (Z in the burner.

In the tube there is a rack or pinion, e, resembling those used in ordinary fluid lamps to feed forward the wick, which is operated by means of a rotary spindle, f, supported in suitable bearings in the case, its upper end turning in a bearing formed in a plate or cap, it, projecting from the top of the fuse tube.

In the top of the spindle is. a pin or striking-device, p, which extends out across the upper end-of the fuse tube, so as to be in contact, or nearly so, with the face of the cap or plate It, and lower down on the spindle there is formed a worm or screw-thread, g which engages with the rack e. When the spindle is revolved, the screw g causes the rack to feed the fuse forward, while at the same time the pin or other suitable striking-device p revolving with the spindle strikes the end of the fuse, which extends up beyond the mouth of the fuse tube, and causes it to be bent over and rubbedupon the top plate h. This, of course, causes the fuse to become instantly inflamed, and, as the plate It is cut away slightly on one side, it burns long, enough for its flame to meet the. gas issuing from the burner B, which is thus ignited. The fuse, after burning 'down as far as the top of its tube, will be extinguished, there being no possibility of'its burning within the interior of the tube, which -it fits closely.

The spindle is rotated by a thumb-piece on its lower end, and the pin or striking-device}: not only serves to ignite the fuse, but also, by being inserted in that part of the spindle which extends up above the bearing formed for it in the plate it, holds the spindle in place. In order to prevent the spindle from being rotated in a contrary direction, so as to draw down the fuse in the tube, a. ratchet, m, is fastened upon that part of the spindle just under the case A,. and a pawl, n, is attached to the case: so as to engage the ratchet.- The latter serves a double purpose, fori t-"not only prevents therotation of the spindle in any but the proper direction, but also checks the further upward motion of the spindle, which is held firmly in position by the pin 1) at its upper and the-'ii'lji'el n near its lower end.- If it be desired, the spindle can be so connected with the cock which regu Mint 2 lates the supply of gas to the burner as to be operated whenever thecoek is turned to let on the gas, and thus, simply by turning the gas-cock, the gascan be turned on and ignited simultaneously, and at one operation.

It will be readily seen that the device can be applied to or removed from any burner, the annular structure of the case admitting of its being slipped on or OFF the burner with ease.

Having described my invention, and the manner. in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The mode or process herein described of rendering a cord or tape combustible and inflammable by frietion, substantially as set forth.

2. The cord or tape coated with the ingredients and in the manner herein specified.

3. The application to and combination with a gas-burner of otherwise ordinary or suitable construction, of a device composed of the following elements, viz: first, a receptacle for the fuse or igniting cord; second, a tube through which the fuse is conveyed from the receptacle to within igniting distance of the gas issuingfrom he burner; third, a friction device to ignite the fuse at the end of the tube; and fourth, a feeding mechanism 0 supply the fuse to be burned.

4. The fuse receptacle, made annular, so that it may be mounted upon the burner, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the receptacle and tube containing and conveying the fuse, as described, of a friction device operated by arotary spindle, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, with a rotary spindle carrying the friction device, of an'endless screw and feed-rack, under the arrangement described, so that by rotating the spindle the said rack shall be revolved and effect the Feed of the fuse, substantially as herein shown and specified. i l h 7. In combination with the fusc'receptacle and the feed and friction device, I claim the device herein shown and described, or the equivalent thereof, for checking the retraction or backward movement of the fuse.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

' W. W. BATCHELDER.

W'itnesses:

W. BAILEY, Enn. F. BROWN. 

